Young boy breaks protocol to be reunited with military mom

A 3-year-old Minnesota boy just couldn't wait to be in his mother's arms after going nine months without seeing her. Kathryn Waldvogel is part of the National Guard's 114th Transportation Company and had been serving in Afghanistan.

Waldvogel told KARE, "All of a sudden we had to file into the building and get into formation, and I just look up and Cooper and my mom are right there."

4PHOTOS

Boy reunited with military mom

See Gallery

Young boy breaks protocol to be reunited with military mom

Up Next

See Gallery

Discover More Like This

HIDE CAPTION

SHOW CAPTION

of

SEE ALL

BACK TO SLIDE

While that reunion definitely melted everyone's hearts, the most interesting -- and perhaps the sweetest -- part about this story is that Cooper was just so excited to finally see his mom that he broke military protocol.

NBC reports, "Soldiers had been instructed to hold off on saying hello to family members until they were formally dismissed."

A military wife explained some of it in a piece for Military.com and noted there's even protocol for wives. For example, service members should never eat when the National Anthem is being played and wives should allow the gentlemen to their left to assist them into their chair at formal dinners.

As for Cooper? He's now home with both of his parents. His dad returned from serving in the National Guard late last year.